How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?
Every year, over 2 million people are diagnosed with opioid addiction. While Suboxone is a helpful medication that prevents withdrawal symptoms in those seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, it can also be addictive. If you are taking Suboxone to help you through opioid addiction, it’s important to understand how long it can remain in your body and be detectable with various types of drug tests.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a medication that contains naloxone and buprenorphine. It is a partial opioid agonist, which means it acts upon the same receptors in the brain as other opiates. However, buprenorphine binds tighter to these receptors and only partially turns them on, which reduces cravings while preventing withdrawal.
Suboxone works quickly, usually within 30 to 60 minutes. When you use Suboxone as directed, the naloxone remains inactive in the stomach. If it is snorted or injected, naloxone reverses the medication’s effects on the body. Therefore, the naloxone component reduces the potential for abuse since it will prevent the user from achieving a substantial “high” from the buprenorphine. For this reason, Suboxone is the medication of choice for opioid use disorder.
Will Suboxone Show Up On a Drug Test?
Suboxone will not show up on a routine opiate test. However, it will show up if the test specifically looks for naloxone, buprenorphine, or its metabolites.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?
If you are currently undergoing addiction treatment or are interested in treatment, it’s crucial to understand how long Suboxone can stay in your system. The peak effects of Suboxone vary depending on the dosage. The larger the dosage, the longer it may take for the peak effects to set in. In general, these effects last up to four hours.
The half-life of a medication is the amount of time it takes for your body to metabolize and eliminate half of a single dose. While naloxone has a shorter half-life of around 30 to 60 minutes, buprenorphine has a very long half-life of 24 to 42 hours, which is much longer than most opiates.
For most people, Suboxone can remain in the system for several days. The following is a general guideline of how long it remains detectable in your body:
- Urine – Up to six days
- Blood – Up to 24-36 hours after use
- Saliva – Up to three days
- Hair – Up to one to three months after use
Several factors influence the amount of time Suboxone remains detectable in the body. For example, your liver plays a significant role in the metabolic process. Suboxone may remain detectable for longer in those with liver function issues. Other factors that influence the elimination half-life of Suboxone include:
- Individual differences in metabolism
- The frequency and dosage of Suboxone used
- Interaction with other substances in the system
- Kidney function
- Overall general health
Additional factors influencing the metabolic process include age, weight, height, and body fat content.
How Long Is Suboxone Detectable in Breastmilk?
A concern for new mothers who are in treatment for opioid use disorder is whether it is safe to breastfeed. If you take Suboxone, some of the medication will remain detectable in your breast milk. Research indicates that infant exposure to buprenorphine may amount to up to 2.4% of a maternal weight-adjusted dose. Because of the low levels of buprenorphine in breast milk and the low drug concentration found in the urine and serum of breastfed infants, its use is generally acceptable for nursing mothers. However, mothers should monitor their infants for drowsiness, respiratory depression, and adequate weight gain, especially if they are exclusively breastfed. There have been some reports of infants experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
What Is Suboxone Withdrawal Like?
Like other opioids, Suboxone use can lead to dependence. The safest way to stop taking Suboxone is to first speak with your doctor or consider entering a drug rehabilitation program. The advisable way to quit Suboxone is to slowly taper your dosage down under the guidance of a healthcare professional until you no longer need it. Abruptly stopping or reducing the dose too quickly can lead to withdrawal. The withdrawal symptoms for Suboxone may include:
- Cold sweats
- Shaking
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Muscle aches
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Insomnia
Withdrawing from Suboxone is similar to withdrawing from other opioids. While symptoms are at their worst during the first 72 hours, they may persist for several weeks or a month due to Suboxone’s long half-life. Treatment for Suboxone withdrawal can help you safely navigate this process. Medical professionals can treat your symptoms and provide support with medically assisted detox. It’s important to treat the psychological and physical symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal to reduce the likelihood of relapse and improve your chances for successful recovery.
What Are the Dangers of Suboxone Addiction?
Anyone who is in recovery for substance use disorder is already at risk of relapse. Initially, Suboxone was thought to have a relatively low risk for addiction. However, it is now being purchased “on the street” by users who attempt to avoid withdrawal symptoms from heroin and other opioids. It is also being used recreationally by some who do not usually take opioids. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in Suboxone addiction.
Some people who become addicted to Suboxone may return to using their old drug of choice. In many cases, each relapse can become progressively worse than the last, and going through the process of detox and withdrawal can become more difficult with each recurrence. For some, each relapse can worsen their addiction.
Treatment for Suboxone Addiction
If you’re struggling with an opioid or Suboxone addiction, consider seeking out professional help. A drug rehabilitation program can provide comprehensive treatment that focuses on understanding the root causes of your addiction, helping you build a healthy, drug-free life. Working with a team of experienced treatment professionals, you’ll participate in evidence-based therapies and receive a personalized treatment plan to develop healthy coping habits, identify triggers, and achieve long-term recovery. Remember, you’re not alone in this journey. By choosing Vogue Recovery Center, you’ll receive the support and guidance you need to recover mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Medically Reviewed by Kelsey Jones, MS, LPC
